Best Practices forTimestrip® BloodTemp 10Use and Application:

Select a Blood Temp 10 (BT10) indicator and implement a QC visual test to make sure it is not yet activated: the arming window should be yellow and the breach window should be white, signaling that the device has not yet been activated.

TIP: Use the indicator only for transport — put it on as you are prepping the bag right before it goes out.

Remove the pre-chilled blood bag from the controlled refrigerator (below 6°C/43°F).

TIP: Wipe any condensation or moisture from the lower part of the bag with a lab tissue paper or absorbent towel where the blood temperature indicator will be placed.

BT10 does not require pre-conditioning and can be activated at room temperature: keep box in a drawer before use and it can be easily taken out at the time of use.

TIP: Pack and prep the cooler with ice and have it ready before prepping the blood bag, this way it will be cold and ready when going out. Use liners/towels for the cooler so that minimal condensation is transferred to blood bag during transport.

Take an ice pack and place the blood bag over the ice pack to keep the blood bag cold.

TIP: Keeping the blood bag on an ice pack while prepping helps keep the temperature of the blood bag stable.

1 2

3 4a

4b

White breach window

Yellow arming window

Best Practices forTimestrip® BloodTemp 10

27770 N. Entertainment Dr. Suite 200 Valencia, CA 91355Tel 800.435.4242 or 661.257.0233 | Fax 800.321.4409E-mail: info@pdchealthcare.com | www.pdchealthcare.com

Use and Application (continued):

Firmly squeeze the activation button between thumb and forefinger until you feel a slight pop. The arming window should turn immediately from yellow to green.

TIP: If the arming window remains yellow, squeeze the button again.

Firmly adhere the BT10 centered on the bottom third portion of the blood bag to get the most blood mass when sitting upright. Press the outer edges a few times to ensure proper adherence.

TIP: Putting the indicator on right after it comes out of the fridge works best — the bag can be prepped afterwards.

Immediately after activation, peel off the liner. Avoid touching the adhesive area.

TIP: Keep from touching the adhesive before putting the indicator on the bag, especially when using gloves because the adhesive strength will decrease after contact with multiple surfaces.

5 6a

6b

BloodTemp10 is a disposable indicator that monitors blood temperature for single trips. Best practice is to take off the indicator once it comes back to the lab.

7

Arming window turning green

Ensure selected Timestrip® Blood Temp 10 indicator is not activated and not yet monitoring temperature: The indication of arming window should be yellow and the breach window should be white.

5

Place the activated indicator on the bag immediately after the bag comes out of the fridge to get the most accurate reading.

TIP

Immediately after activation, peel off the liner. Avoid touching the adhesive area. Firmly adhere the Timestrip® Blood Temp 10 centered on the bottom 1/3rd part of the blood bag to get the most blood mass when sitting upright. Press the outer edges a few times to ensure proper adherence.

8

Keep from touching the adhesive before putting the indicator on the bag, especially when using gloves because the adhesive strength will decrease after contact with multiple surfaces. Wipe any condensation before putting placing the indicator on the bag.

TIP

Validation forTimestrip® BloodTemp 10

Verify that the blood bag is fully pre-chilled in a refrigerator (below 6°C/43°F).1

Make sure to use a probe thermometer — the IR thermometer will read the surface temperature of the bag and may be inaccurate.

TIP

Insert a probe thermometer into the bag and make sure it is positioned so that the end of the probe is in the center of the blood bag liquid to assure temperature measurement of the ‘core’ temperature of the liquid mass.

2

Place the blood-bag (with the inserted thermometer) back in the controlled refrigerator. Verify that the blood bag core temperature has stabilized to reach (2°C/36°F – 6°C/43°F) relevant blood bank regulation temperatures.

3

To make it easier to measure temperature, prop the bag up so that the blood mass is at the bottom of the bag.

TIP

Remove the blood bag (with the inserted thermometer) from the controlled refrigerator into normal room temperature environment. Do not use or place bag on cold pack during validation. Allow blood bag to rise normally to room temperature.

4

The indicator must be at an environmental temperature at or above 10°C/50°F (preferably at room temperature), in order to be able to squeeze the button more easily.

6

Firmly squeeze the activation button between thumb and forefinger until you feel a slight pop. The arming window should turn immediately from yellow to green. If the arming window remains yellow, squeeze the button again.

7

Follow the measured temperature via the thermometer and verify that a blue color appears in the indication window soon after the measured temperature has breached 10 degrees C. Any blue coloration in the “breach-window” (from partial to full color change) is defined as a breach.

9

Repeat the process with one or more Timestrip® Blood Temp 10 indicators as required.

10

27770 N. Entertainment Dr. Suite 200 Valencia, CA 91355Tel 800.435.4242 or 661.257.0233 | Fax 800.321.4409E-mail: info@pdchealthcare.com | www.pdchealthcare.com

The thermometer tip should be placed so that it reads the area close to the indicator (closer to the middle of the bag).

TIP